Share The Post

This will probably sound paranoid, but I got a strange feeling when I heard about the world’s governments, Hollywood celebs, schools, news outlets, big business and social media moguls coming together in complete lockstep (even – gasp! – Democrats and Republicans!), to promote something called Hour Of Code.

It’s not the same tingling as what happens to Chris Matthews’ leg whenever Obama says something his speechwriters came up with, but more along the lines of, “what in the world – why?!?!?”

The Hour Of Code is allegedly a worldwide (166 nations) public campaign to get kids interested in computer science, and grownups to realize that computer training is important. It kicked off this morning when Google officially changed its search home screen to this:

So I followed this link to the promotional video and websites. (curiously, these sites work perfectly, unlike the Obamacare debacle, but I digress.)

What’s going on?

As the Wall Street Journal reports, the approximately $1 million campaign was launched by Code.org, a nonprofit organization that has so far raised $10 million from supporters like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and major technology companies. More than 33,000 schools in 166 countries will dedicate at least one hour this week to computer science education as part of Code.org’s initiative, which is timed to coincide with this year’s Computer Science Education Week.

The effort has earned endorsements from tech companies, celebrities, and politicians, including both President Barack Obama and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R – VA), who each released video statements urging students to participate.

“Don’t just download the latest app, help design it,” Obama said in a video address released this week. “Don’t just play on your phone, program. No one’s born a computer scientist, but with a little hard work — and some math and science — just about anyone can become one.”

Tech Crunch reports that the campaign is now featured on the home pages of Yahoo, Youtube, Apple, MSN, Bing and Disney throughout the week, and a bevy of politicians, stars and athletes will also be pitching in to draw attention to the campaign.

Among the recognizable names are actors and musicians like Shakira, Ashton Kutcher, Angela Bassett and athletes like Chris Bosh, Warren Sapp and Dwight Howard, along with tech leaders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Susan Wojcicki. It’s also refreshing to see politicians from both sides of the aisle come together to support one nation, under code. Obama, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senator Cory Booker, Newt Gingrich and Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan are among those releasing videos tonight in support of the “Hour of Code.”

Here’s the Obama plea for ALL Americans to get behind this, for our country’s future:

And in case Obama can’t convince you, big name celebs made a film of their own:

33,000 schools signed on so far. Here’s the “official” Hour of Code promo:

Why now?

In a time when Common Core standards and curricula are being implemented at an astounding rate by our government, the public education efforts in the United States continues to try to figure out how to impart the basic skills we really need, like how to read, how to write, and how to add, subtract and multiply. Do we understand how common it is for college freshmen to struggle to put together the basic paragraph, or balance their new digital bank accounts?

I know, I know. Perhaps the little hairs prickling up on the back of my neck is an extreme reaction. So I’m an extremist. But is anyone else even asking questions, like why this, and why now?

6682948 Responseshttp%3A%2F%2Fstandupforthetruth.com%2F2013%2F12%2Fcommon-code-for-the-whole-world%2FCommon+Code+for+the+whole+world2013-12-09+18%3A22%3A16A.+S.http%3A%2F%2Fstandupforthetruth.com%2F%3Fp%3D668294 to “Common Code for the whole world”

It's not too far fetched that the "little hairs may be prickling up on the back of your neck". I can see some codes being sent out within this "hour of code" jargon….Sorry, I digressed also.

Yes, we live in a technological age and we need people to learn those skills, BUT,
-we also need hands and feet to grow and cook the food that these people eat, and build those buildings that these people learn in and do the hands on medical care that they may need…and on and on and on.

Because so much of our world now is run by computer programs, it makes sense for our children understand the logic behind how things run. We have always had inventors that tinkered, my grandfather was a master electrician that loved fixing all manner of equipment, and even made some interesting things himself. I went into mechanical engineering and learned how to design and build heavy equipment after taking a tool and die apprenticeship.

This is just the next round of engineers, inventors and tinkerers learning skills that are used in their world. It has actually been scientifically proven that learning how to code, and the logic behind it, is beneficial to children. It introduces if/then statements and conventional logic that is difficult to teach in any other media.

I am not sure I can say that this is a bad thing, just different from what we learned growing up. I do not think it means that the Tribulation is at hand.

I do not see how end times prophesy is warranted from people in the entertainment and computer electronics industry are pushing for our children to be computer literate when so much of what we do depends on computers.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

All well and good that there may be some who would like to enter the field of "computer science" but when I hear quotes such as;
"It should be mandatory to be a citizen on this planet to read and write code". [which was stated 2 times in the videos]
Or,
"It's the closest thing we have to super power"
or
"wizards of the future" or "have magic power",
It raises many questions in my mind. One in particular, is it being implied that if you don't learn this "code", you shouldn't be a citizen on this planet?

Cherie – I do not actually see what your scripture choices have to do with anything related to these videos. You are saying that all the people involved in this project are doing so with malicious intent? Against God? That is plain and simple crazy speak! Taking something and lining it up with a cherry picked Bible verse is not validating something is not right. There are alarmists everywhere….you do not have to leave this very website to see that.

Our world is very quickly being run by computers. This is something that will effect the jobs of our children, and certainly their children. Automation will do most of our manufacturing, farming, will cover some service jobs such as ordering at a restaurant or checking into a hotel.

If our children are not taught these things, they will have a difficult time down the road. This is why there is a push for this education. You also have to realize that all the people supporting this are either tech savvy entertainers, or people who have led the way in technology development. Same as popular chefs join initiatives for eating healthy and musicians support music educations….it is what they are passionate about.

Just because you d not agree with that does not make it not from God, or mean that the people behind it are against Him! Many of the people supporting this initiative are Christians, and who are you to say that they are going against God with this.

I agree that some of the comments are off putting, but I still would not claim that this is from the devil. There are plenty of self proclaiming Christians that comment here that make bolder claims, though just as ridiculous, on this site.

Hello. I uncovered your blog post using msn. It becomes an particularly smartly composed document. I'll be absolute to bookmark this as well as go back to get more information of the practical info. Was looking for submit. I'll certainly come back.